Snatch block



May 175 1949.

BJB. BRYsoN ETAI- SNATCH BLOCK Filed Aug. 2v, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 17, 1949.

SNATGH BLOCK 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1947 4 5 9 Z PJ. Moy# W. Q m MW 7. i M @f 5 Mk a A M a M f z 3 W4 6 o im., \5 \l\T fll?! e -w 0 4 M i@ w n 5 w k2 7 Z w w w z 4 Patented May 17, 1949 OFFICE SNATCH BLOCK Bert B. Bryson and Marion Alvin Coleman, Kilgore, Tex.

Application August 27, 1947, Serial No. 770,910

Claims. l

This invention relates to an improved snatch block and more particularly to a device of this kind having swingable side plates which are adapted to be locked in the closed or engaged position by a pivotal trunnion bolt.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved snatch block in which the side plates may be pivotally separated about a connecting bolt for ready insertion of a cable or the like between the side plates where the cable is trained over a pulley or sheave supported therebetween.

Another object of this invention is to provide a snatch block of this kind in which the side plates are locked in erect position or closed position by engagement of one of the side plates with a slotted trunnion bolt on which is supported a hook. In one position oi the trunnion bolt the side plates are so engaged that they are securely locked together, while in another position oi the trunnion bolt substantially 90 from the first position, the side plates may be pivotally separated.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specication, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a snatch block constructed according to an embodiment of our invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation, partly broken away and partly in section,

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of the snatch block with the plates in the separated position,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a top plan View showing the relation of the trunnion bolt and engaging pivot pin.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I o designates generally an improved snatch block in which the side plates may be pivotally separated for the insertion or removal of a cable or other exible member between the plates, for engagement with a pulley supported between the plates. The snatch block I0 is so constructed and arranged that the side plates Il and I2 will be locked together in one position of a trunnion bolt I4 which connects the side plates II and I2 together at their upper end.

In a position of the trunnion bolt' I4 rotated substantially 90 from the locking position, the

side plates II and I2 may be pivotally separated at their upper ends by rocking in either direction from the trunnion. This construction and arrangement is particularly adapted for use of a snatch block in .restricted areas in which it will be necessary or desirable to have the plates separable by rocking in either direction 'from their xed position. Such a construction will eliminate the necessity of removing the snatch block from its supporting cables or the rotation of the snatch block to dispose it in a certain position so that the cable may be removed or inserted.

The side plates II and l2 are formed with an opening near their lower end through which a pivot pin I5 is loosely engaged. The pivot pin I5 is formed with an enlarged shank I6 which engages through the opening of one side member, as I2, and is formed with a reduced diameter threaded end I'I by engaging through the opening in the other plate Il.

A ange or head I3 is formed on the end of the shank It for abutting engagement with the outside surface of the plate I2. A nut I9 is threadably engaged on the reduced diameter end Il for abutting engagement with the outside of the plate I'I for pivotally connecting the plates together attheir lower end. A pulley or sheave 20 is rotatably supported on the pin I5 between the plates II and I2. rIhe pin I5 is formed with a lubricating opening 2l which opens at one end as through the head I8 and opens intermediate the length of the shank It for lubricatin g the bearing surface between the pin and the pulley 20.

The upper end of one plate, as plate I2, is slightly oiiset as indicated by the numeral 22, to provide sufficient space and clearance at the upper end of the plates Il and I2 for disposition of the trunnion bolt Ill and its engaging pin 24. The trunnion bolt I4 is rotatably supported from one of the side plates I I at the upper end thereof. The bolt It is substantially cylindrical in shape, having a pair of opposed ilattened surfaces, as 25, 25, on opposite sides thereof.

A reduced diameter trunnion bearing 21 is xed to or formed on one end of the trunnion bolt I4 adjacent one flat surface, as the upper surface 26. The bearing surface 21 engages through an opening 23 in the side Wall of the plate Il. A reduced diameter threaded bolt 29 is fixed to or formed on the end of the bearing 2l concentric thereto and a nut 30 is threadably engaged with the bolt 29 for rotatably securing the trunnion I4 on the plate Il.

A cotter pin 3| engages through the nut 30 and bolt 29 for holding the nut against rotation on the bolt. A U-shaped opening 32 is formed on the other end of the trunnion I4 and opens upwardly through the end of the upper flat surface 26. The opening 32 also opens outwardly through the outer end of the bolt I4. The bolt I4 is further formed with a recess 33 inwardly of the opening 32, thereby forming a hang-e 34 about the opening 32L at theff end of the bolt. The flange 34 is substantially U-shaped and extends about the edge of the opening 32. lower end of the opening 32 and flange 34 is arcuate, having a radius substantially the saine and coaxial with the bearing 2f1= on the opposite side of the trunnion.

A trunnion engaging pin 3.5 is rotatably supported in the opposite side plate IZadjacent the upper end thereof. With an Opening 36 through which the pin 35 looselyengages. The lpin. 35 is formed with-an venlarged annular head or bearing surface 31 which is` adaptedtoabuttingly engage the inner surface of the plate` I2. andl engage on the upper edge of the flange 3'4' inthe opening 32. The bolt 35` is coaxial with .the bearing 21 to provide a pivot for. thetrunnion I4. The shank of the bolt 35- engages through the opening36, and a nut 38.. threadably engages. the shank'- 36- outwardly of the plate I2 where it is secured-by a cotter` pin 39.Y

An` enlarged kdiameter flange 40! is xedto or formed on the inner surface of the head 3-1 concentric thereto.. The flange 4Q is provided for engagementwithin the,recess .33." in the opening 32` of the trunnion I4. The flange. 40 and headl 31 on thebolt y3Sen'gajgeonly the bightor arcuate surface of the U-shapedopening 3'2" and flange 34'.

A supportinghook {Vis-carried by the trunnion I4 and' extends ,normally above'the upper end of the plates I-I" and I2` The hook 4'I is formed with a reduced'diameter shank 42lwhich engages through the' trunnion bolt I4' intermediate the'length thereof. The shoulder 44 formed by the. reducedV diameter' shank Il2Y and" khooked together through the trunnion bolt I4 in the erect position' of thehook 4I. For separating` the side plates `II and I2 it is necessary to rock` the hook .4`Isub1stantially 90'so that the opening 32 will be `disposed approximately perpendicular to the vertical axlsofthe side plates. Rocking ofthe hook ,4Iwill effectv simultaneous rocking' of the' trunnion bolt I 4 so that the bearing31`and flange SIImayCbeslidf-rom the opening 32 and recess 33 toone sideof the axis of the' plate.

For' engagingthe side" plates I I( and I2 again, it is necessary after4 the cablehasbeen removed from or inserted into engagement with the pulley Z'U'topivot the' plate' I2" about the pivot pin I5 so that the `ange`^40 and bearing 31 'will slidably engage into' the'opening; 32 and recess 33. As the' hook- 4I and" trunnion I4l are rocked or pivoted about the" bolts29' and 35, the side arms ofv the opening 32; willf h oldV the pin 35 against sliding movement fronfthe opening 32: In this manner the sid@` plates IT and" I 2" are efficiently- The' The side plate I2l is formed' locked together. The construction is such that swinging movement of the plates I I and I2 about the pivot through the bolts 29 and 35 will not permit the separation of the side plates II and I2 until the trunnion is rotated approximately from the erect position. Seldom is such a position inadvertently attained by the snatch block in its use, To rotate the trunnion this far it is-necessary to release all. the tension from the snach block and rotate the trunnion manually.

We do not mean to conne ourselves to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim is:

1. vAn improved-snatch block comprising a pair of parallel side plates, the upper portion of one of said plates offset outwardly from the lower end thereof, a pivot pin between the lower ends of said plates, a pulley rotatable on said pin, a hook, a trunnion rotatably mounted on one of said plates between said plates at the other end thereof, means mounting said hook on said trunnion, said trunnion formed with an upwardlyand inwardly opening groove on one end thereof, a trunnion engaging pin carried by the other of said plates, an annular flange on said pin engageable in said groove, said flange slidable from said trunnion in a rotated position of said trunnion whereby said plates may be pivoted about said pivot pinfor separating the plates at the upper end thereof.

2. An improved-snatch block comprising a pair of parallel side plates, a pulley pin betweensaid plates at one end thereof, a pulley on said pin, at least one of said plates being loose on said pin for rotation thereabout, a trunnion between said plates at the other end thereof, said trunnion including a cylindrical body having oppositely disposediiat sides, a reduced diameter bearingat one end of saidvbody rotatably engaging through one of said side plates, a-hook on said trunnion, the other end of saidbody formed with a U- shaped recessed groove opening on one side of said body, a trunnion engaging pin carried by the other side plate, an annular flange on, said trunnion engaging pin slidable into said groove through the open end thereof in one positionof said trunnion, said flanged pin being restrained in saidgroove in other positions of said trunnion for supporting said other plate on-said trunnion.

3. Anv improved snatch block comprising a pair of parallel side plates, a sheave supporting pin loosely engagingthrough said plates at one end thereof, a-sheave rotatable on said pin, a trunnion rotatably. mounted. on the other end ofv one of said plates,.a\radiallydisposed U-shaped channelled groove on one end of said trunnion adjacent the other plate, opening on one side ofsaid trunnion, a-flanged pin. carried by the other plate engageable in said groove, said flange engaging in said groove slidably in one rotated position of said trunnion for removal therefrom whereby said plates may be rocked in opposite directions about said sheave pin for separating the upper ends of said plate.

4. An improved snatch block comprising a pair of parallelside members, a pulley rotatable between said members at one end thereof, means pivotally securing said members together at one end' thereof, a-cylindrical member rotatably carried by` one of said sidezmembers at the other end thereof, said latter member formed with achannelled recess at one end thereof adjacent the other side member, said recess opening radially through one side of said rotatable member, and a iianged pin on the other side member, the flange of said pin engaging in said recess for supporting the other member from said rotatable member, said ange being slidable from said recess in one rotated position of said rotatable member whereby said snatch block may be opened at one end between said side members.

5. An improved snatch block comprising a pair of parallel side members, a pulley rotatable between said members at one end thereof, means vpiVotally securing said members together at one the other member from said rotatable member, said iiange being slidable from said recess in one rotated position of said rotatable member whereby said snatch block may be opened at one end between said side members, said rotatable member formed with a pair of oppositely disposed flat sides, a supporting hook on said rotatable member, the shank of said hook engaging through the flat sides of said rotatable member, and means securing said hook on said latter member.

BERT B. BRYSON.

MARION ALVIN COLEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 743,840 Eby Nov. 10, 1903 1,162,080 Hacker June 13, 1939 

